Comments on: Is a homebirth safer than a hospital birth? http://www.queenannechiro.com/chiropractic/pregnancy/is-a-homebirth-safer-than-a-hospital-birth/ Seattle Chiropractor Blog | Life of a Queen Anne Chiropractor Thu, 03 Jun 2010 19:41:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: kgibson http://www.queenannechiro.com/chiropractic/pregnancy/is-a-homebirth-safer-than-a-hospital-birth/#comment-34 kgibson Wed, 10 Feb 2010 01:25:57 +0000 http://www.queenannechiro.com/?p=940#comment-34 If anyone is interested in more information about homebirths, check out "The Business of Being Born". It is a great introduction into why so many families are choosing to birth at home. The statistics that have stuck with me are: 1 in 3 hospital births result in a c-section. This is due in large part to the cycle of induction with pitocin (to imitate contractions, but it makes them even more painful) and epidurals (which slow down labor). These drugs are used in higher doses until the doctor declares that the mother has not made enough progress and takes her to the operating table. The truth is that 98% of births can be labored naturally and safely. The other 2% do need medical assistance (and thank goodness hospitals are there to help those mothers). Pregnancy is not a medical condition. I got a taste of backlash when I was telling some first time moms on the online birth board that I belong to that their bodies were made for this and to not be afraid of the size of the baby. Another mom wrote back quickly that she didn't like me making broad statements like that because a lot of moms cannot birth their babies. In actuality that is far from the truth. Our bodies WERE made for conception, pregnancy, and birth. Yes, some women do need medical help in all three of those stages of life, but most do not. Our society is also not set up to view what birth is really like. Our introduction to it is from TV and movies (not a good portrayal!). I had the honor of attending two of my sister's births before having my first child. I knew what birth was like and had witnessed it in person. This is the way it used to be. Children and families were able to witness a birth which takes away a lot of fear. Birth is, after all, a part of life. A very important part. I'm excited to continue to get the word out that women do not need to be afraid of birth. I also cannot help but smile and cry for joy when I think of holding my next child in my arms. I know that I'll be able to hold my baby right away because I'll be at home, surrounded by my midwife who I trust, her assistants, and my husband and my son who I love with all my heart. It's an experience that I wish for every woman. Yes, you can have that experience in a hospital, but you need to be willing to fight for it. Personally, when I'm in labor, all my fight and energy is focused on my body and baby. These are all part of why we choose to deliver at home. Thanks Graeme, for bringing this important subject to light. Chiropractic care is a huge part of why my pregnancies and births have been so successful! If anyone is interested in more information about homebirths, check out "The Business of Being Born". It is a great introduction into why so many families are choosing to birth at home. The statistics that have stuck with me are: 1 in 3 hospital births result in a c-section. This is due in large part to the cycle of induction with pitocin (to imitate contractions, but it makes them even more painful) and epidurals (which slow down labor). These drugs are used in higher doses until the doctor declares that the mother has not made enough progress and takes her to the operating table. The truth is that 98% of births can be labored naturally and safely. The other 2% do need medical assistance (and thank goodness hospitals are there to help those mothers). Pregnancy is not a medical condition.

I got a taste of backlash when I was telling some first time moms on the online birth board that I belong to that their bodies were made for this and to not be afraid of the size of the baby. Another mom wrote back quickly that she didn't like me making broad statements like that because a lot of moms cannot birth their babies. In actuality that is far from the truth. Our bodies WERE made for conception, pregnancy, and birth. Yes, some women do need medical help in all three of those stages of life, but most do not.

Our society is also not set up to view what birth is really like. Our introduction to it is from TV and movies (not a good portrayal!). I had the honor of attending two of my sister's births before having my first child. I knew what birth was like and had witnessed it in person. This is the way it used to be. Children and families were able to witness a birth which takes away a lot of fear. Birth is, after all, a part of life. A very important part.

I'm excited to continue to get the word out that women do not need to be afraid of birth. I also cannot help but smile and cry for joy when I think of holding my next child in my arms. I know that I'll be able to hold my baby right away because I'll be at home, surrounded by my midwife who I trust, her assistants, and my husband and my son who I love with all my heart. It's an experience that I wish for every woman. Yes, you can have that experience in a hospital, but you need to be willing to fight for it. Personally, when I'm in labor, all my fight and energy is focused on my body and baby. These are all part of why we choose to deliver at home.

Thanks Graeme, for bringing this important subject to light. Chiropractic care is a huge part of why my pregnancies and births have been so successful!

]]>